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Milan-Juventus Preview: Common Enemy

There is a long rivalry between Milan and Juventus, a
rivalry that has been exacerbated by events of recent years. Despite the fact
that many Milanisti feel Juventus are being punished by having Allegri as their
coach, they continue to steamroll through the league and head toward yet
another Scudetto. Whereas Milan, after showing signs of improvement, are in ritiro this week, that bizarre
punishment/team-building practice that statistically rarely works. Milan have
the most success in Europe, Juve have the most success in Italy. But whether
you are a Juve fan or a Milan fan, I have an unusual take on how this game
should be played. Both teams should band together against our common enemy,
Inter. Meaning that both teams should play for Milan to win, as that is the
result which will most harm Inter.

Standing together for the common good... and a Milan win

Milan hate Inter because they are Inter. Also because they
are our city rivals. And they smell. And really for so many reasons. Juventus
also hate Inter, their long rivalry is a matchup known as the Derby d’Italia.
But after Calciopoli,
Juve fans hate Inter even more, as well they should. We all do, but no one more
than Juve. Therefore, Inter are our common enemy, and if we are smart, we will
always work together to insure Inter’s demise, one game at a time.

Juventus have a six point lead at the top of the table, ten
points ahead of third place. And with Napoli’s Higuain banned for four matches,
they have some room for error. But Milan are six points behind Inter, so every
point we can get toward overtaking them helps us help themselves fall further
down the table. Remember that at Christmas time, they were top of the table. So
while their self destruct plan is going very well, it wouldn’t hurt to have
their rivals overtake them on the table to complete their destruction, which is
why Milan need a win on Saturday.

A Milan win could help resolve our differences

Both teams have injury concerns. Allegri is missing Caceres
and Chiellini to injury. There are still questions as to the fitness of Bonucci,
and Dybala as of this writing, too. But we all know that if they are breathing,
Allegri will field them, even if they get reinjured (like Chiellini just did,)
so expect those three to be “available.” Khedira was given a two match ban, but
Juve have appealed it to have it reduced, so he may or may not be available. For
their classic Allegri 1-0 win over Empoli, he lined up Buffon; Chiellini,
Barzagli, Rugani; Marchisio, Pogba, Lichtsteiner, Evra, Pereyra; Morata, and
Mandzukic. Whom he lines up for our match will likely depend on whomever is
most likely to be reinjured, if my experience tells me anything.

In addition to babysitting the boys at a week long ritiro slumber party this week
that I’m sure involved lots of popcorn, movies, mani-pedis, makeovers, and late
night ghost stories, Mihajlovic has a massive headache of his own: Montolivo is
injured and Bertolacci is suspended. While most fans likely cheered upon
learning this, it is not a great way to face a team with such a great opposing
midfield. In addition to the fact that the team is so used to playing with one
or both of them, their substitutes (cough)Poli(cough) have been on the bench
for a reason and are simply not likely to be as effective. It’s really one of
the worst areas we could be missing players in for a game like this, even if
most of us have dreamed they would go missing. Also, we are still missing
Niang, of course. But Alex and Honda are likely, and there is a chance that
Kucka could return.

Leave your racist and Balotelli death chants at home, we need unity now more than ever

With both teams facing injury problems and only seven games
left of this season, I say it’s time to band together and make Serie A great
again. That means that in addition to needing a miracle for Frosinone to defeat
Inter earlier that day, both Juve and Milan should work together toward getting
Milan three points. United we stand, divided we fall. We all know what happens
when Inter get too close to winning… they cheat and steal. If 2006 taught us
nothing else, it’s that teams like Juve and Milan need to take a stand and
never let them get close to winning again. For the good of Serie A and football
in general, let’s stand together against our common enemy.

This post inspired by the music of
Blink 182’s “Stay Together For the Kids”